Table Of Content"fiRCBiRDs isN't just RecommeNDeD,it'
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F
irebirds is more than simply an anthology—it is a cele-
bration of wonderful writing. It gathers together sixteen
original stories by some of today's finest writers of fantasy
and science fiction. Together, they have won virtually every
' major prize—from the National Book Award to the World
; Fantasy Award to the Newbery Medal—and have made
best-seller lists worldwide. These authors, including Lloyd
Alexander, Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix, Patricia A.
McKillip, Meredith Ann Pierce, and Nancy Farmer, each
with his or her own inimitable style, tell stories that will
entertain, provoke, startle, amuse, and resonate long after
the last page has been turned.
The writers featured in Firebirds all share a connection to
Firebird Books, an imprint that is dedicated to publishing
the best fantasy and science fiction for teenage and adult
readers. This anthology is essential reading for all fans of
speculative fiction.
a spLeNDiD gatHeRiNg of awaRD-wiNNiNg
faNtasists a magicaL coLLectiON."
—kmkus Reviews, staRReD Review
Cover illustration copyright
0-14-240320-2
I© Cliff Nielsen, 2003
flReBIRDS
aN aNtHoLogy of
ORigiNaL faNtasy aND
scieNce fictioN
"This impressive collection showcases an unusual diversity of styles,
settings, and tone. November, editor of Penguin's Firebird imprint,
has chosen wisely: each of these 16 tales has literary merit strong
enough to transcend its respective micro-genre (heroic fantasy, fairy
tale, magic realism, 'feline fantasy,' etc.)." —Publishers Weekly
"A one-of-a kind anthology. . .. Editor Sharyn November is known
lor seeking input from teens, which is undoubtedly a large part of
what makes this collection so strong. Firebirds is a great gift for the
many devoted fans of fantasy stories, or for anyone looking for a
highly engaging read." —Teenreads.com
"1 hese are very enjoyable stories, a delightful selection, and in the best
I radition of the best YA fiction, quite satisfying for adults." —Locus
" rhe fiery cover is a proper indication of what lies between this book's
covers: a collection of flamingly good fantasy tales." —BCCB
featUReD IN fmeBiRDS
Lloyd Alexander
Emma Bull and Charles Vess
Michael Cadnum
Kara Dalkey
Nancy Farmer
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Diana Wynne Jones
Patricia A. McKillip
Garth Nix
Meredith Ann Pierce
Delia Sherman
Sherwood Smith
Nancy Springer
Megan Whalen Turner
Elizabeth E. We in
Laurel Winter
awaRDS foR flRBBIRDS
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Top 20 Fantasy Books of the Year,
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror (17th Edition)
A Locus Recommended Reading Selection, 2003
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
A VOYA Best Science Fiction,
Fantasy, and Horror Title, 2003
fl ReBIRDS
aN
aNtHoLogy
of
ORigiNaL
fantasy
aND
scieNce
flCtlON
edited by Sharyn November
FIREBIRD
AN IMPRINT OF PENGUIN GROUP (USA) INC.
FIREBIRD
WHERE FANTASY TAKES FLIGHT1"
WHERE SCIENCE FICTION SOARS™
Across the Nightingale Floor: Episode 1 Fire Bringer
Lian Hearn David Clement-Davies
Across the Nightingale Floor: Episode 2 The Green Man:
Lian Hearn Tales from the Mythic Forest
The Angel's Command Ellen Datlow and
Brian Jacques Terri Windling, eds.
The Beggar Queen Growing Wings
Lloyd Alexander Laurel Winter
The Beguilers Hannah's Garden
Kate Thompson Midori Snyder
Beldan's Fire The Harp of the Grey Rose
Midori Snyder Charles de Lint
The Bellmaker The Hero and the Crown
Brian Jacques Robin McKinley
Birth of the Firebringer The Hex Witch of Seldom
Meredith Ann Pierce Nancy Springer
The Blue Sword The Hidden Land
Robin McKinley Pamela Dean
C '.astaways of the Flying Dutchman House of Stairs
Brian Jacques William Sleator
The Changeling Sea Interstellar Pig
Patricia A. McKillip William Sleator
A Coalition of Lions The Kestrel
Elizabeth E. Wein Lloyd Alexander
Crown Duel The Kin
Sherwood Smith Peter Dickinson
Dark Moon I Am Mordred
Meredith Ann Pierce Nancy Springer
The Dreaming Place I Am Morgan Le Fay
Charles de Lint Nancy Springer
The Ear, the Eye and the Ann The Legend of Luke
Nancy Farmer Brian Jacques
Ecstasia The Long Patrol
Francesca Lia Block Brian Jacques
Enchantress from the Stars Lord Brocktree
Sylvia Engdahl Brian Jacques
The Far Side of Evil Mariel of Redwall
Sylvia Engdahl Brian Jacques
Marlfox The Son of Summer Stars
Brian Jacques Meredith Ann Pierce
Martin the Warrior Spindle's End
Brian Jacques Robin McKinley
Mattimeo A Stir of Bones
Brian Jacques Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Moon-Flash Taggerung
Patricia A. McKillip Brian Jacques
Mossflower Tamsin
Brian Jacques Peter S. Beagle
The Mount Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood
Carol Emshwiller Meredith Ann Pierce
New Moon Triss
Midori Snyder Brian Jacques
Outcast of Redwall Waifs and Strays
Brian Jacques Charles de Lint
The Outlaws of Sherwood Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits
Robin McKinley Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
Parasite Pig Westmark
William Sleator Lloyd Alexander
Pearls of Lutra The Whim of the Dragon
Brian Jacques Pamela Dean
Primavera The Winter Prince
Francesca Lia Block Elizabeth E. Wein
Redwall Wolf Moon
Brian Jacques Charles de Lint
The Riddle of the Wren Wolf Queen
Charles de Lint Tanith Lee
Sadar's Keep Wolf Star
Midori Snyder Tanith Lee
Salamandastron Wolf Tower
Brian Jacques Tanith Lee
The Secret Country Wolf Wing
Pamela Dean Tanith Lee
Shadowmancer Wren's Quest
G. P. Taylor Sherwood Smith
The Sight Wren's War
David Clement-Davies Sherwood Smith
Singing the Dogstar Blues Wren to the Rescue
Alison Goodman Sherwood Smith
FIREBIRD
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, U.S.A.
Penguin Group (Canada), 10 Alcorn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3B2
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
(a division of Penguin Books Ltd)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi - 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), Cnr Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank,
Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Registered Offices: Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL, England
First published in the United States of America in hardcover by Firebird,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2003
Published in paperback by Firebird, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2005
1 3 5 79 10 8 6 42
Introduction copyright © Shaiyn November, 2003
"Max Mondrosch" copyright © Lloyd Alexander, 2003
"Medusa" copyright © Michael Cadnum, 2003
" The Lady of the Ice Garden" copyright © Kara Dalkey, 2003
"Remember Me" copyright © Nancy Farmer, 2003
"Flotsam" copyright © Nina Kiriki Hoffman, 2003
"Little Dot" copyright © Diana Wynne Jones, 2003
"The Baby in the Night Deposit Box" copyright © Megan Whalen Turner, 2003
"Byndley" copyright © Patricia A. McKillip, 2003
"Hope Chest," copyright © Garth Nix, 2003
. "The Fall of Ys" copyright © Meredith Ann Pierce, 2003
"Cotillion" copyright © Delia Sherman, 2003
"Beauty" copyright © Sherwood Smith, 2003
"Mariposa" copyright © Nancy Springer, 2003
"Chasing the Wind" copyright © Elizabeth E. Wein, 2003
"The Flying Woman" copyright © Laurel Winter, 2003
"The Black Fox" (lyrics) copyright © Graham Pratt, 1974
"The Black Fox" (adapted story) copyright © Emma Bull, 2003
"The Black Fox" (illustrations) copyright © Charles Vess, 2003
All rights reserved
ISBN 0-14-240320-2
Printed in the United States of America
Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that
it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise
circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover
other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
To the authors included here—thank you
with all my heart.
CONteNtS
Introduction 1
Cotillion by Delia Sherman 5
The Baby in the Night Deposit Box
by Megan Whalen Turner 42
Beauty by Sherwood Smith 69
Mariposa by Nancy Springer 107
Max Mondrosch by Lloyd Alexander 122
The Fall ofYs by Meredith Ann Pierce 138
Medusa by Michael Cadnum 150
The Black Fox by Emma Bull (adaptation)
and Charles Vess (illustrations) 157
Byndley by Patricia A. McKillip 180
The Lady of the Ice Garden by Kara Dalkey 199
Hope Chest by Garth Nix 228
Chasing the Wind by Elizabeth E. Wein 264
Little Dot by Diana Wynne Jones 297
Remember Me by Nancy Farmer 338
Flotsam by Nina Kiriki Hoffman 352
The Flying Woman by Laurel Winter 394
Acknowledgments 417
About the Editor 421
